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Alpha and beta spillover in liquid scintillation counting analysis of urine samples

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Abstract

Rapid detection and quantification of gross alpha/beta-emitting radionuclides by liquid scintillation counting (LSC) is vital in guiding response to a nuclear or radiological incidents. Liquid scintillation counters use signal pulse shape to discriminate alpha and beta events in samples but require precise optimization to minimize the spillover, or misclassification, of those events. In this study, samples at varying activity levels were analyzed by LSC to determine the effect of activity level, emitter type, and sample matrix on spillover. Analysis proved a matrix effect and a direct correlation of activity level on spillover percentage for both alpha and beta emitting-nuclides.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health, Division of Laboratory Sciences, Inorganic and Radiation Analytical Toxicology Branch, 4770 Buford Hwy, MS S110-5, Atlanta, GA, 30341-3717, USA

    Olga Piraner & Jonathan Button

  2. Battelle Memorial Institute, 505 King Avenue, Columbus, OH, 43201, USA

    Karlee Eardley

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  1. Olga Piraner
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  2. Karlee Eardley
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  3. Jonathan Button
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Correspondence to Olga Piraner.

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Piraner, O., Eardley, K. & Button, J. Alpha and beta spillover in liquid scintillation counting analysis of urine samples. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 332, 3837–3844 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-023-09035-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-023-09035-8

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